NATIONAL OFFICE OF DISASTER SERVICES

A local Consultant has begun the work of developing a National Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Policy and Strategy for Antigua and Barbuda.

Director of Kingdome Consultants Dorbrene O’Marde is expected to hold consultations over a ten-week period before submitting his final report. The CDM strategy and framework focuses on all hazards in all phases of disaster management, namely preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery.

Consultations began on Tuesday with the National Disaster Executive Committee which is made up of representatives from the Police Department, the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force and the Ministries of Public Works, Foreign Affairs, Health, Information and Social Transformation.

Director of the National Office of Disaster Services Philmore Mullin spoke of one of the major issues identified following a review of the country’s disaster legislation in 2009. “The one black spot that came out against Antigua is that we have roles and functions clearly defined and assigned but there were no penalties for inaction and so that is something we want to address in the policy”.

Among the other concerns are the need for integrated planning, establishing and maintaining standards at the sectoral level, evacuations of those in vulnerable areas, the involvement of NODS in the development process and the relationship with the Development Control framework, the management of mass gathering events and relief supplies management and distribution to name a few.

O’Marde is also expected to meet with officials in Barbuda. “In the work we did on the National Land Use Policy and Plan there are some very specific concerns in Barbuda which I really think that this activity should address that was not included in the original TOR’s”, O’Marde said. 

The consultancy is being funded by donor agencies, through the Comprehensive Disaster Management Harmonised Implementation Programme (CDM HIP) arrangement under the CDEMA CU, UKAID, CIDA, AusAid and OECS support.